As if to underscore this point, a group of citizens in Assisi has organized a drive for donations to be transported to the sprawling tent cities where thousands are living in temporary housing in Emilia Romagna as we speak.

The Premise:

As explained on their page:

Fifteen is a odd choice as a name for a Facebook page, as it is more a number than a word. That said, in this case Fifteen is not merely a number, but an idea. Fifteen: the years which separate the earthquakes in Umbria—“our” earthquake—and the earthquakes still taking place in Emilia Romagna. Fifteen: many years, but not enough for us to forget what happened in our region, and who lended a hand in those difficult times. On this Facebook page, and through our drive, we’d like to remember who set up our tents, made us coffee and pasta, came to the scene to declare our houses safe, put on concerts of traditional Alpine songs during the evenings in the stadium to buoy our spirits, cleared the streets of debris, mounted roadblocks, set up port-a-potties (and cleaned them), brought us medicines and looked after our elderly, hooked up the electricity in our tent cities and moved our dead. This page is for those children, now adults, who in the long days of 1997 played ball with volunteers from all across Italy. The ball is in our court now.

The Drive:

The drive is open to donations from 18 June – 14 July, 2012.
Monday and Friday from 9 to 11 pm
Tuesday and Saturday from 6 to 8 pm

The drop-off point is Via Arco dei Priori 2/B (near the church known as Chiesa Nuova in the historic center)

The Donations:

Quindici is accepting the following donations:

Food:

Mineral water

Teas and camomile tea

Canned goods

Rice

Pasta

Sugar

Gluten-free foods

Baby food

Formula

Teething biscuits

Personal Hygiene:

Soap

Liquid soap

Toothbrushes

Toilet paper

Menstrual pads

Shampoo

Toothpaste

Mosquito repellent

Adult diapers

Deodorant

Infant diapers

Diaper rash ointment

Diaper wipes

Miscellaneous:

Plastic and paper plates, cups, and cutlery

Paper towels

Paper napkins

Laundry detergent and cleaning products

For logistical reasons, please try to make donations in bulk of one item, rather than a mixed donation.

The Catch:

Not within driving distance of Assisi but still want to help? No worries…you can send me your PayPal donations of ten or twenty bucks (or fifty. that’s cool. you’ll feel especially warm and fuzzy.) and on July 13th I’ll make a run to the IperCoop and spend your money for you. And I promise I won’t shave any off the top or run off to Brazil. It’s like Unicef, but without the administrative costs. Just drop me a line at rebecca@brigolante.com to let me know.

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4 Comments

In honor of the Tupperware donation made by one of my colleagues to my cousin in Assisi, I will happily make a cash donation for you to spend at the Ipercoop (with my thanks for making this so easy for me – I’d probably buy bags of Pan di Stelle for everyone).

Rebecca, what a great initiative! If some people want to send a care package instead, may they do so to the address above? And – if so – just the zip is missing and anything else to complete the address. Thanks, happy to support this cause!

Hi Helen, and thanks! If you want to send a care package, you can send it to my address (the place they are using to receive and store donations is only open in the evenings).
Rebecca Winke
Attn: Quindici Assisi Ricorda
Via Costa di Trex, 31
06081 Assisi (PG)
Italy